Re: This is a GAMING list not a RELIGION list!

--- Thomas Barclay <kaladorn@magma.ca> wrote:

> In simple fact, one can argue that X cultural 
> group appears today to have a cultural or 
> historic tendency towards behavior B. What that 
> says about an imaginary future 200 years away 
> is ENTIRELY CONJECTURAL. If one can make 
> these conjectures and projections in a civil 
> manner with the willingly admitted caveat that 
> this represents one possible view, then they 
> probably won't offend. If one appears to 
> offhandedly slander X because of B and asserts 
> without question that with certainty B will 
> continue to be the behaviour of X and that 
> anyone who thinks otherwise is an <insert 
> insult>, then one is claiming a clairvoyance that 
> suggests they shouldn't be wasting their time 
> on this list but should be busily advising world 
> leaders, making themselves rich, or heading off 
> major future crises. Clearly this game is beneath 
> their inestimable talents. Don't waste my (and 
> presumably other peoples time) stirring up 
> tempests in a teacup (or responding to 
> temptests stirred up in the teacup) - it won't 
> help the list, it won't convince the people you 
> are in conflict with, and it usually has bugger all 
> to do with an IMAGINARY FUTURE WHICH IS 
> ALREADY UNLIKELY AS HELL AND EXISTS ONLY 
> IN OUR MINDS. 

Tom--one minor point.

We are discussing a future in which there "are no good
guys", right??

If peace, love, and happiness haven't broken out among
civilized democracies, why should anyone be offended
by the statement that Muslims are not terribly likely
to become Ghandian pacifists?  Everyone in the
GZG-verse is a bit of an extrapolation from the more
"negative" tendencies of historical cultures.

The NAC is an imperialist, arrogant bunch with the
delusion that the entire universe should be given the
benefits of their culture.

The ESU are Commies in Space, no more need be said.

The FSE are. . . French.

The NSL has resurrected both Prussian militarism and
Austrian imperialism.

The PAU is. . . never mind.

The IC and OU fought a war over colonialist spheres of
influence in the South Pacific.

And the IFed runs around firebombing peace
conferences!!

So in the GZGverse no one is going to become Ghandian
pacifists.  Would make for a pretty damn boring
wargame, in my opinion (Ha!  You fool!	My elite
Hunger Strike Squad has gotten CNN coverage.  You're
done for!).  Feh.

Now In the Real World, no one knows (I certaintly
havn't made predictions) exactally what the future
will bring.  One can say that certain philosophies
will either engage in Behavior B or mutate until they
are unrecognizable.  Then the question is exactally
how mutable the philosophy in question is.  Some
belief structure change heavily--would Henry VIII
recognize the Anglican church of today?  Others stay
pretty much as they were--the Taliban's version of
Islam would be pretty familliar to Mohammed, once you
explained why you carried AKs instead of swords and
bows.

John

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